Amazon to end on-site COVID-19 testing at its U.S. warehouses

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Amazon has informed workers that it will end on-site COVID-19 testing at its U.S. warehouses, as first reported by The Information. The company confirmed to The Verge that it will begin scaling back its testing operations in the United States by July 30.

Although many in the United States are vaccinated, 48% of the country is fully vaccinated, according to New York Times data as of Monday, the change comes as case rates in the country rise. The vast majority of new cases were found among unvaccinated people.

Amazon informed staff on Monday of its plan to end COVID-19 testing, according to The Information. Free COVID-19 testing is now widely available and our employees have many options available to them, including through health providers and public testing sites, according to part of the post.

The company had set up a massive test operation

The company had set up a massive testing operation, saying in October that it planned to run 50,000 tests per day at 650 sites by November. And as of May 19, Amazon no longer requires masks for fully vaccinated warehouse workers, unless local laws indicate otherwise, according to CNBC. While the company has not required warehouse workers to be vaccinated, it is encouraging it by offering bonuses of up to $ 80 to get vaccinated.

But workers in some warehouses came out at the start of the pandemic to protest the company’s handling of the virus at its facilities. Sometimes Amazon left workers in the dark when their coworkers tested positive for the virus, for example. In June, the company also began selling a $ 39.99 in-home COVID-19 test that is available to consumers.

Amazon will resume its employee testing program if there is a change in guidance from local or national public health officials, the company told The Verge.

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